Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paul McCartneys Rick caught my attention when I was very young. I prefer his bass the way it looked originally (fireglo). Chris Squire came along, when I heard him play, I had to have a Rick! Roger Glover and and a few others got my Rick GAS going also. Geddy Lee Showed me that they could be played and sound just as well fingerstyle since most '70's Rick bass players used a pick.

I always thought ricks were cool, then one day I walked into Guitar Villa in Bethelehem PA and saw the blue flame 4001 hanging on the wall. I was instantly addicted.

Pete Townshend in old photos I saw as a kid. Then I discovered the ultra-cool that is Johnny Marr....

Mike, I wish I had known you 30 years ago! Your bass is pretty Cool too!

Ah, that Saturday Evening Post cover brought a lot of memories. That too, was one of the things that turned me on to both Ric and Gretsch. What an incredibly iconic picture that was! But I was a kid and like an idiot, I tore the cover off, folded in in half, and pasted it on a piece of black construction paper. My buddy and I used to take it out and hang it up to "inspire" us to write songs. I found that old cover a year or so ago, and of course it's worn to hell, creases and folds all over, and worse, whatever glue I used has eaten thru the pic and made a nice dark ugly "frame" around the edges. I used to do this with all KINDS of articles and pics I wanted to keep -- thinking, like and idiot, that THIS will protect them!

It's a good thing I took better care of my guitars. Meanwhile, all you kids who bag your comics and other mags in vinyl bags with protective cardboard backings, yeah, maybe you're anal, but in 40 years you won't be posting on some guitar forum what an idiot you were for ripping them up!

In short, it was The Beatles that got me hooked. I recall asking my folks to look for a ric (then pronounced it rickenbaiker...) on their vacation to London assuming rics were British or European made. I cut out of an old magazine a pic of The Bootleg Beatles showing "John" with a FG 1996. I asked for "my guitar" to be "black". That was very early 80's. They Could not find one. In 92' I finally bought my 360v64/12FG and my 4003JG. This was part 2 towards my "advanced addiction"...

this forum sure isn't going to end it :S

I was always a Fender fan - I aspired to own a Strat and had one or two in the late 70's which I did like very much. For the most part I was not aware of Rickenbackers and actually thought that they were made in Germany - thus The Beatles connection with Hamburg. I was looking for a vintage 60's instrument and happened upon a 1966 Ric 450. It needed some work which I was happy to do and absolutely fell head over heels for this guitar. The sound was amazing with just the right amount of jangle and the action was set so it could be played by even the most mediocre player which of course fit me perfectly. I still have this guitar today and I regularily take it on the road. My other main love (if you can really have two)is my 1966 Ric 330. It was quite a departure from the 450 with the big body size and the fretboard and neck where a bit wider than the 450. The sound of the 330 really rocks and has elements you just can't get with a 450. I have had other Rics but I must admit they came and went as I always felt they were not quite as good as my 450 and 330. I suspect they were every bit as good but it was just my perception. I am currently working on restoring a 1958 Combo 400 which is quickly earning a new spot in my love for Rics.

For me it was a road trip with my older brother and our cousin from Ireland..1976? Boston to ...somewhere and back. Three days of nothing but Fish Out of Water (and King Crimsons "Red")
Squire's bass sounded both beautiful and sad. It still does.
I still enjoy "trying"to play along with FOOW.

I've loved electric guitars of all kinds since I was a little kid. Like many others I can match the artist with the instrument and I too was influenced by the Rickenbacker association with The Beatles, Roger Glover, AC/DC (Mark Evans the original bass player used a Rick for a while) and many others.

Eighteen months ago I bought a 1990s 340-12FG and then almost stumbled across my 1965 Rose Morris 1998 FG late last year. That's when the addiction started. The feel, the sound, the vibe - I wanted more, particularly vintage stuff.

Fifteen Rickenbacker guitars and basses later my current inventory stands at ten with another on the way!

I started relatively late with Rickenbacker in that I was a bass player for awhile before my purchase. I was at a local dive bar watching the band play there. It was a cover band from St. Louis called Old School. Their bass player had a MG 4003 that just kept my attention all night. I believe Marc and others have touched on the fact that not only do they sound good - they look better than any other brand out there. It was only after seeing this band that I began investigating Ricks and then realized what a role they have played with regards to Macca, Squire, Getty, and others.

I don't think that my love affair began with one
moment,band or player.Things started in the mid '70s
while listening to various bands (jeez, I feel like I'm starting in some sort of a 12 step program "Hi my name is Bill and I'm a Ricaholic".Not that there's anything wrong with that).Beside the looks I think what really attracted me was the thought of the unique sound quality that Rickenbacker basses have to them.I agree that Yes,Deep Purple,Rush etc..were a insperation
but I listen to a lot of jazz and wonder what
flavors a rickenbacker would bring in diffrent variations to music outside of the rock box.Jeff Scott
is a prime example and one hell of a musician - Thanks Jeff.While I don't have a lot of time to play/practice it's allways a fun adventure if not a little amusing due to my somewhat limited
experenice to play bass.A Rickenbacker 4001.
Oh,ok.Well I have two now.I still like my Fenders but I'm looking to get rid of a couple of them 'cause ya never know when ya might,uh...oh nevermind.Bill

For me it was the Byrds. I couldn't believe 'Mr Tamborine Man'. Couldn't afford a Ric 12 string in the 60s, but walked into Maccari's in central London 5 years ago and bought a used Jetglo 360-12. I now have an RM370-12 and a 360. For me they are sort of time machines that catch the spirit of an amazing area (Beatles, Byrds, etc.) Anyone else get that feeling?

Roger Glover on "Machine Head"!

John Lennon!...'nuff said for me!